# Is there a name for these "bait-and-switch" sort of songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 25, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704 "2008-03-25T19:48:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/1 "2008-03-25T19:48:14Z")
Songs where the songwriter, usually for comic effect, sets up an obvious rhyme and then goes with a completely different word? The only examples I can think of are novelty/comedy type songs, like: [Shaving Cream](http://www.lyricsandsongs.com/song/202690.html) > [@](#): > > I think I’ll break off with my girlfriend > Her antics are queer, I’ll admit > Each time I say, “Darling, I love you” > She tells me that I’m full of … > Shaving cream, be nice and clean > Shave every day and you’ll always look keen Or a song about sodomy laws that includes the lyric “They think it’s sinful / I think it sucks / Having laws that tell us how we should…fornicate!” Or in a sorta kinda example, that old playground song about Miss Suzie and her steamboat where “Hell” gets blended into “Hello operator” and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/2 "2008-03-25T19:57:55Z")
Johnny Cash: _The One On The Right Is On The Left_ - Now, the one on the left works in a bank And the one in the middle drives a truck The one on the right’s an all-night deejay And the guy in the rear got drafted \* I always took that last line of the song to be a joke because the listener might assume he’s going to say “got fucked.” Not that Cash ever would have said that, but still. I could be totally wrong about this though. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/3 "2008-03-25T20:05:12Z")
Don’t know if there’s a name for the specific genre, though I’ve been curious for a while, too. > [@](#): > > Well, I took her out to dinner, but on one thing she was firm: > She’d swallow almost anything, except for > Stories that her brother didn’t like birds, > But hung around leather bars, and liked to eat > Fish and chips, and he still sucked his thumb. > I said, “I don’t mind!” And she kissed me on my > Polka-dot undies! > My polka-dot undies! ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/4 "2008-03-25T20:06:29Z")
The Killers _Mr. Brightside_ Now I’m falling asleep And she’s calling a cab While he’s having a smoke And she’s taking a drag Now they’re going to bed And my stomach is **sick** And it’s all in my head But she’s touching his **chest** Now, he takes off her dress Now, letting me go ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/5 "2008-03-25T20:13:30Z")
When a gentleman dapper Stepped out of the . . . _phone booooth_ ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/6 "2008-03-25T20:23:59Z")
A lot of children’s songs do this. The only one I can recall is: Lulu had two boyfriends. Each was very rich. One was the son of a millionaire The other one was the son of a… Ask me no questions. I’ll tell you no lies. This is the story of how Lulu dies. ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/7 "2008-03-25T20:36:42Z")
Not rhyme-based, but the Who’s My Generation _“Why don’t you all F-F-F-FADE AWAY”_ Another children’s rhyme: \*Mary had a little lamb She thought him really silly She threw him up into the air And caught him by the… Willy was a bulldog Sitting on the grass Along came a bumblebee And stung him on the… Ask no questions Tell no lies I once saw an old man Doing up his… Flies are a nuisance Bees are worse And this is the end Of my silly little verse.\* I can’t believe I remembered all that. :o ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/8 "2008-03-25T20:42:52Z")
There once was a farmer who took a young miss In back of the barn where he gave her a Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs, And told her that she had such beautiful Manners that suited a girl of her charms, A girl that he wanted to take in his Washing . . . – “Sweet Violets” (which my mom taught me only a few years ago) ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/9 "2008-03-25T21:06:39Z")
**Aerosmith** , _Love in an Elevator_ “Gotta get my timin’ right Its a test that I gotta pass Ill chase you all the way to stairway, honey Kiss your sassafrass” And kinda fitting is **Kid Rock** _Cowboy_ “Cuss like a sailor Drink like a mick My only words of wisdom Are RADIO EDIT” ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/10 "2008-03-25T21:29:47Z")
[QUOTE=Scarlett67] There once was a farmer who took a young miss In back of the barn where he gave her a Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs, And told her that she had such beautiful Manners that suited a girl of her charms, A girl that he wanted to take in his Washing . . . – “Sweet Violets” (which my mom taught me only a few years ago) [/QUOTE] This was the one I thought of when I read the OP. We had it on a Mitch Miller Sing-Along album when I was a kid, and I thought it was one of the funniest songs. and yes, sometimes instead of watching TV in the evenings the family would sit around play a Mitch Miller album and sing along. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/11 "2008-03-25T21:30:48Z")
I don’t know if there’s already a technical term for it, but if not I would suggest: implicit double entendre. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/12 "2008-03-25T21:31:29Z")
The Doors - L’America _You know the rain man’s comin’ to town Change the weather, change your luck And then he’ll teach ya how to… find yourself_ ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/13 "2008-03-25T22:17:24Z")
The one in Family Guy with Frank Sinatra Jr. was pretty raunchy: > [@](#): > > Frank Sinatra Jr > > ♪ We love it when the ladies squeeze us ♪ > Brian > > ♪ That’s an easy way to please us ♪ > Brian, Stewie, and Frank > > ♪ But we feel like freakin’ Jesus when we swing ♪ > Brian > > ♪ I love the work of Allen Funt ♪ > > Stewie > > ♪ Or a nicely shaven leg ♪ > Brian, Stewie, and Frank > > ♪ But nothing compares to the feeling that we get ♪ ♪ No, nothing compares to the feel we get when we swing! ♪ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/14 "2008-03-25T22:20:34Z")
Roses are red and ready for plucking You’re sixteen and ready for high school! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/15 "2008-03-25T22:45:33Z")
Tom Lehrer: Her breakfast coffee tastes just Chammmmmmm- poo. It’s the first of a couplet, but it has the same effect. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/16 "2008-03-25T22:58:45Z")
**Working Up a Sweat** Bandages come off today Really feeling sick The hardest part explainin’ All those blisters on my…nose! Alice has quite a few of these. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/17 "2008-03-25T23:22:06Z")
“In My Country” sung by the Lemon Sisters: > [@](#): > > Captain, Captain, come and dock > And bring along your big fat cocktail shaker > We’ll have a ball > In my country > … > > But when it’s frigid on the eastern front > It’s nice and hot down in my country, > So baby, please, > Come again! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/18 "2008-03-26T00:16:08Z")
Mary had a little lamb she thought he was a silly she threw him up into the air and caught him by the Willy was a sheepdog lying in the grass down came a bumblebee that stung him on the Ask no questions tell no lies I saw a policeman doing up his Flies are a problem wasps are worse that is the end of my silly little verse ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/19 "2008-03-26T00:29:53Z")
[“A Clean Song”:](http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/bawdy-songs/000039.HTM) > [@](#): > > There was a young sailor > Who looked through the glass, > And spied a fair mermaid > With scales on her island > > Where seagulls > Fly over their nests > She combed the long hair > That hung over her shoulders > > And caused her > To tickle and itch. > The sailor cried out > “There’s a beautiful mermaid,” > > A-sitting out > There on the rocks, > The crew came around > A-grabbing their glasses . . . and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704/20 "2008-03-26T00:39:42Z")
Xander, to Anya, in “I’ll Never Tell” (\*Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s \* musical episode “Once More With Feeling”): “She is the one, so much wonderful fun Such passion and grace! Warm in the night, when I’m right in her tight EMBRACE, tight embrace!” And another fakeout (a callback to the same, actually) in the same song: “You’re the cutest of the Scoobies With your lips as red as rubies And your firm, yet supple TIGHT EMBRACE!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-these-bait-and-switch-sort-of-songs/442704.md?page=2)